In her previous life, Yu Tang had no particular feelings about Third Master Pei becoming the head of the Pei family. This was mainly because by the time she learned that Third Master Pei was in charge of the Pei family, she had already married into the Li family, and Third Master Pei was already the patriarch. But thinking about it now, she found it very puzzling.
No matter how substantial the Pei family’s ancestral wealth was, as a scholar, becoming the patriarch meant having to distance oneself from officialdom and remain in the countryside to maintain the family business. How could that compare to becoming a minister or entering the cabinet, leaving one’s name in history?
Moreover, for a great clan like the Pei family, to ensure that their children serving as officials outside wouldn’t capsize in their careers due to money matters, there was usually a certain annual subsidy to guarantee that Pei family children serving as officials outside could be free from financial constraints and fully display their political ambitions, without needing to worry about expenses at all. This was also an important reason why the Li family desperately tried to amass wealth after becoming newly noble—they wanted to be like the Pei family, stepping into the ranks of great clans that passed down scholarly traditions through generations and produced officials generation after generation.
Of course, Yu Tang only learned this after marrying into the Li family.
Although Lu Xin’s character wasn’t particularly admirable, he had many dubious friends and well-informed sources. While his information couldn’t be entirely trusted, it couldn’t be entirely dismissed either. Since he said the Pei family had quarreled over who would become patriarch, it couldn’t be completely groundless. At the very least, people in the Pei family must have had disputes about it.
But was Third Master Pei really that kind of person?
Yu Tang thought about the impression Third Master Pei had given her in her previous life.
Mysterious, low-key, powerful, lofty and aloof.
Firmly controlling the Pei family, dominating Lin’an City.
Like a hawk circling in the sky—ordinarily people didn’t feel much, but once any major event occurred, they could feel the shadow he cast over them.
Despite the Li family’s zealous attempts to curry favor with the Pei family, she had never even seen Third Master Pei. The Li family had wanted to interfere with Lin’an City’s business behind the Pei family’s back several times, but never dared to actually do it.
Would such a person compete with his eldest branch nephew for the position of patriarch?
Yu Tang was extremely doubtful.
She couldn’t help but smile and say to Lu Xin, “Uncle Lu’s information is truly well-informed! Since having Third Master Pei stay home to inherit the family business was the old master’s idea, and filial piety comes first in all matters, what does the eldest branch have to dispute?”
Yu Tang had never cared about such matters before. Lu Xin was rather surprised to hear this and paused slightly before smiling at Yu Wen, “A’Tang has grown up and has her own opinions now!”
The implication was that as these adults were conversing together, Yu Tang, as a young woman, shouldn’t casually interject.
Unfortunately, Yu Wen never felt there was anything wrong with his only daughter sitting at the table and voicing her confusion.
He laughed, “That’s right. Our A’Tang has grown up, become sensible, and knows how to feel for and be considerate of her parents.” As he spoke, thinking that his daughter’s maturity came from the family encountering difficulties, he couldn’t help feeling a dull ache in his heart. His expression dimmed slightly as he sighed.
Yu Bo, however, was drawn in by Lu Xin’s words.
Being in business outside, he could better appreciate the Pei family’s formidable power. It could even be said that if there was any disturbance on the Pei family’s side, those of them in business would sway and shake along with it.
“So will the Pei family ultimately have the eldest branch inherit the family business, or will Third Master inherit it?” He was more concerned with this question. “Could Mr. Lu please be more specific?”
Seeing that neither brother was quite proper, Lu Xin felt somewhat displeased, but couldn’t very well say much about it. He responded in a muffled, gruff voice, “How could a decision about the Pei family patriarch be made so quickly? Although the old Pei master is the patriarch, the Pei family currently has three branches. If it were passed to the eldest legitimate son, no one would have anything to say. But since Old Master Pei wants to skip over the first and second branches to pass it to the third branch, the other two branches definitely won’t agree! This matter still has much to be disputed.”
By the end of his speech, his tone carried a hint of schadenfreude.
This made Yu Tang despise this man even more.
Just moments ago he had been eating and drinking at the Pei family’s expense, and now he turned around hoping for something bad to happen to the Pei family.
She secretly rolled her eyes at Lu Xin.
Yu Bo knew Lu Xin always spoke this way and didn’t take it to heart, but worried instead, “Who knows when the Pei family’s affairs will settle down. If their family lets Changxing Street remain like this…”
Even if the Yu family had the silver to rebuild the shop, they wouldn’t be able to get the business running.
Who would go shopping in a pile of ruins?
Lu Xin didn’t care about such matters. He rambled on gossiping about the Pei family at great length. For instance, the eldest Pei master had married the eldest daughter of the current Imperial Academy Chancellor, and both sons were suited for scholarship. From childhood they had studied under their maternal grandfather, and despite their young age, their learning was exceptionally good.
The second master had the temperament of a clay Buddha—whenever something happened, he only knew to say “good.” He had married the daughter of Old Master Pei’s fellow successful candidate from the provincial examination. They had one son and one daughter.
The third master was a child of old age. From childhood he had been extremely unruly, enjoying martial arts and weaponry but disliking study. Even at seven or eight years old he couldn’t sit still, often escaping from the school to the pear garden to listen to opera and watch acrobatics. When he grew a bit older, he learned to gamble and engage in cock-fighting, causing the family’s stewards to search the streets for him. He was Lin’an City’s famous dandy. Even when the eldest Pei master wanted to discipline his younger brother, Old Master Pei would stop him. At the time, everyone said the Pei family’s century-old reputation would be completely ruined by Third Master Pei. Who would have thought he would smoothly pass the imperial examination to become a jinshi? Not to mention outsiders—even the Pei family members were greatly shocked, wondering if there had been some mistake. Old Master Pei was also absurdly biased. Upon learning Third Master Pei had passed high in the examination, he took a bamboo basket filled with copper coins and scattered them at the main gate. He was also determined to arrange a prestigious marriage for this youngest son, declaring that nothing less than the legitimate daughter of a third-rank official would do. Even more bizarrely, Old Master Pei actually got his wish. The current Second Chancellor, Grand Secretary Xin, reportedly took a liking to Third Master Pei. If the eldest master hadn’t suddenly died, the marriage would have been settled…
Yu Tang listened with great interest.
In her previous life, she had never heard these anecdotes about Third Master Pei.
When others mentioned Third Master Pei, they would say with barely concealed pride in their words, “I know him,” or “I’ve seen him,” or “I’ve had drinks and meals with Third Master,” and such. She had never known that Third Master Pei had once been so frivolous and impetuous in his youth.
She had thought Third Master Pei had been a steady, sensible, well-mannered young master from a prestigious family since childhood!
Yu Wen also seemed to have never heard about Third Master Pei’s affairs, and repeatedly exclaimed his surprise.
Lu Xin said dismissively, “Victory writes the history books. Now that at such a young age he’s observing government affairs in the Six Ministries, and the Pei family is deliberately paving the way for him, who would be so tactless as to continue criticizing Third Master Pei? Only people like us, without roots or foundation, get schemed against and treated like duckweed.”
Yu Wen knew he was about to start complaining again and quickly consoled him, “You’re still better off than me. My father was just in the lacquerware business. Your respected father was at least a xiucai who served as a staff advisor to Grand Secretary Zuo—a scholarly family background.”
Grand Secretary Zuo’s given name was Guangzong. He had achieved success through the two-level examination and during his tenure as Governor of Su-Zhe provinces had repeatedly repelled pirates, bringing blessings to the people of Su-Zhe. He rose in rank to Minister of War and after his death was posthumously honored with the title Xiangmao. He was a famous and capable minister who had gone out from Su-Zhe provinces and enjoyed extremely high prestige in the Su-Zhe region.
Even Yu Tang, a young lady who didn’t concern herself with worldly affairs, had heard of this grand secretary’s name and anecdotes.
Lu Xin felt somewhat proud and had Yu Tang’s mother bring wine, saying he wanted to drink a few cups with the Yu brothers. After three rounds of drinks, he began talking about his ancestral achievements: “…My father personally accompanied Grand Secretary Zuo out to sea, drew maps, and even helped Grand Secretary Zuo train naval forces.”
Yu Tang felt Lu Xin was bragging.
The meal lasted until the moon rose above the willow tips. Yu Yuan supported the drunk and incoherently babbling Lu Xin as he stayed the night at the Yu residence.
The next day, Lu Xin slept until the sun was high in the sky before rising.
His face pale and breath reeking of alcohol, he spun around the room in circles searching for his shoes: “It’s over! It’s over! Hui Li, where did your family buy these servants from? They can’t even handle such a small matter properly. Clearly knowing that today is the eldest Pei master’s funeral procession and that I still need to help arrange the funeral affairs, they didn’t wake me up early! You’ve killed me!”
Yu Wen felt guilty. While helping him find the shoes he had somehow kicked under the bed, he apologized, “It’s alright, it’s alright. The Pei residence is very close to us. I’ll have A’Tiao take you through the small path.”
“Quick! Quick! Quick!” Lu Xin urged. Without even having time for a sip of tea, he followed Yu Wen’s servant A’Tiao out the door.
Yu Tang watched from behind the curtain with a suppressed smile, then turned to accompany her mother for breakfast.
Elder sister-in-law Wang Shi and eldest cousin Yu Yuan came to see Yu Wen.
Yu Yuan took the memorial eulogy Yu Wen had written overnight and left, but elder sister-in-law stayed behind.
Yu Tang figured it was probably about the batch of goods burned in the shop, and eavesdropped through the window lattice for a while.
Elder sister-in-law was indeed trying to persuade father to convince eldest uncle to go to Jiangxi to purchase lacquerware.
Yu Tang felt slightly reassured.
After seeing off elder sister-in-law and having lunch, Yu Wen went out, saying he was going to check on the shop.
Chen Shi already knew their family’s shop had burned, but didn’t yet know the severity of the situation. When personally seeing Yu Wen off, she still instructed him, “Money and wealth are external possessions. Eldest brother has always helped manage the family affairs. Without eldest brother, our family business couldn’t operate. Whatever needs to be said, say it nicely. Our family can accept more losses.”
Yu Wen nodded absently. When he returned that evening, he told Chen Shi and Yu Tang, “Eldest brother and A’Yuan have urgent business in Jiangxi. Make some dried provisions and preserved vegetables for them to take on the road.”
Chen Shi smiled and agreed, going to the kitchen with Chen Pozi.
Yu Tang, however, let out a long breath of relief.
The family affairs were gradually moving in a good direction. Given time, they would surely escape the misfortunes of her previous life.
Yu Tang happily went to the kitchen to help Chen Shi.
Lu Xin, however, came calling again with a dejected air.
With a bitter expression, he said to Yu Wen, “This time you’ve really killed me! When I arrived at the Pei residence this morning, the eldest young Pei master had already broken the mourning pot, and the Pei family’s head steward glared fiercely at me. Son of a gun, what is he? Nothing but a dog the Pei family keeps. If it weren’t for the Pei family’s sake, who would acknowledge him!”
It was rare for Lu Xin to use such vulgar language. Yu Wen was startled, but Lu Xin had already continued, “No! I can’t stay in Lin’an any longer. It’s stagnant water here. There’s no point in me staying any longer. I’m going to the capital. My father still has a few old friends in the capital.” As he spoke, he turned and grasped Yu Wen’s hand. “Hui Li, don’t I have that ‘Fishing in Seclusion on Pine Creek’ painting at your place? You said the other day you liked it and wanted to buy it. Well, since we’re old friends, I won’t ask for much—two hundred taels of silver. For two hundred taels of silver, you can take it.”